Ban on New Guantanamo Cases to Be Lifted

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. official says the Obama administration will soon increase the use of military trials for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. And it will set up a parole-type system to review the cases of prisoners who are not expected to get such trials.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan has not yet been announced.

He said Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to soon lift a 2-year-old order that blocked any new cases from being started against terrorism suspects at Guantanamo. President Barack Obama is expected to sign an executive order setting up the parole-type system.

The ban on new cases was put in place just after Obama's 2009 inauguration because he planned to close the prison. But his efforts have been thwarted by Congress.